Marc Dos Santos resigns

28 June 2011

Impact Media

“I’ve accepted Marc’s resignation, because the team is having a difficult and unacceptable sequence," said club president Joey Saputo. “This is too important of a year to let it go like this. From the start of the season, I said it was important to finish our journey in second division on a positive note in order to start MLS on a high. Our goal today hasn't changed, we want to make the playoffs and get as far as possible.”

"The technical staff in place will be led by Nick De Santis," added Joey Saputo. "Following Marc's departure and after analysing our current situation as a club, this is our best short-term option. Additionally, being with the team everyday, Nick will get the chance to evaluate the group. I am confident that our coaches will straighten up the situation. I want to thank Marc for his services over the last five years with the club. I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours."

Marc Dos Santos became the eighth head coach in Impact history on May 14, 2009, after replacing John Limniatis. In his first season coaching the Impact, Dos Santos was a league finalist for Coach of the Year and led the Impact to its third championship in team history. Dos Santos quits with a regular season record of 26-26-16 and a Nutrilite Canadian Championship record of 0-6-3. In 2011, the Impact had only won two games in 12 regular season games (2-7-3).

De Santis left his head coaching position in June 2008 to become the team’s technical director, then was named sporting director on Jan. 31, 2011. As head coach, De Santis registered 69 wins, 29 losses and 30 ties in 128 regular season games. De Santis was a finalist for Coach of the Year in his first three seasons leading the Impact (2004-2006), winning the award in 2005. He led Montreal to the league championship in 2004 and to regular season championships in 2005 and 2006.

Mauro Biello, Gil Orriols-Jansana and Youssef Dahha all remain with the Impact as assistant coaches.

The Impact will play its next home game at Saputo Stadium against the Puerto Rico Islanders, on Wednesday, June 29, at 7:30pm (Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, radio-canada.ca/sports). Tickets for this game are still available through Admission Network (admission.com / 514-790-1245) or at Saputo Stadium’s ticketing office.